Chapter 250: Xue Pei: Greenhouse Effect
“He was busy with entrepreneurship and work, had no time for dating, and we broke up before we could even get married.” Although Xue Shufan’s tone was light and breezy, anyone with discerning eyes could tell she hadn’t let go of the past.
Most people in their circle had heard about the romance between Miss Xue and the poor boy Tang Shubai.
Pei Qingji didn’t know how to respond.
Love is beyond one’s control. Being carefree doesn’t mean one can easily let go of feelings; it just means they no longer look back.
The friendship between Xue Shufan and Lian Li was genuine and mutually appreciative; they were similar yet vastly different. Xue Shufan grew up doted on by her family. Later, when she got together with Tang Shubai, they went through many difficult times together, relying on and encouraging each other, becoming indispensable presences in each other’s lives.
During Tang Shubai’s early entrepreneurial stages, Xue Shufan unconditionally supported him. He also appreciated her efforts, reciprocating with material and emotional rewards. Though their lives were hard then, they were very sweet. However, after his career took off, he started being late for dates due to work, and even stood her up for their planned trip to Norway.
Countless dashed hopes turned into disappointment. When Grandma Xue passed away, Tang Shubai wasn’t there for Xue Shufan when she needed him most, so she initiated the breakup.
If one were to overlook the fact that the day after the breakup, the sky thundered and lightning flashed, and Tang Shubai rushed back from another city, his tall figure drenched by the downpour, looking disheveled and travel-worn.
They had a relatively peaceful breakup.
Tang Shubai’s company was listed on the Hong Kong stock market last year. Now, he is a rising star in the tech industry.
Even if Xue Shufan couldn’t forget him in her heart, she had grown over the past two years, likely influenced by Lian Li, with her Junior Sister pushing her forward. She is living quite well now, either conducting experiments at the research institute or enjoying life by traveling.
However, Lian Li often tells her she’s committing slow suicide; what kind of way is drinking oneself into a stupor to enjoy life?
That little girl, her Junior Sister, was quick-witted. Xue Shufan couldn’t win an argument with her, so she started to quit drinking and take care of her body.
Sigh.
People are multifaceted; one side is cheerful and outgoing, while the other is melancholic.
Xue Shufan shook her head.
Pei Qingji’s expression was clear and composed; he didn’t ask further about her past with Tang Shubai.
The head chef pushed the food cart into the private room, serving dishes and pouring tea. He briefly introduced the characteristics of the dishes and the best ways to eat them, then bowed respectfully and left.
Xue Shufan was familiar with Pei Qingji and they chatted casually about work and life, such as their parents meeting for dinner at the restaurant on the weekend, and her requirements for a marital home and a future husband.
“I don’t have many requirements,” Xue Shufan said. “We know each other so well; if there are any issues, we can just focus on the big picture and let the small things slide.”
“Oh, and don’t get a cat. Li Li is allergic to cat hair, so if you have a cat, she won’t be able to visit.”
Pei Qingji noted everything down: “Understood.”
After dinner, Pei Qingji drove Xue Shufan home. When Xue Shufan was busy with work, she lived in the research institute’s apartment and rarely stayed at her aunt’s place.
The car stopped downstairs from her apartment. Xue Shufan unbuckled her seatbelt and got out, only to find Pei Qingji had also gotten out.
She looked at him.
“Let’s get our marriage certificate,” Pei Qingji said, his eyes fixed on her, his voice calm and deep. “You can treat it as a trial marriage; you don’t need to have too much psychological burden.”
Xue Shufan asked, “Do I look like I have a lot of psychological burden?”
Pei Qingji smiled gently, “Did you forget that you considered marrying me for a long time?”
Xue Shufan also laughed heartily, “Considering for a long time doesn’t mean having a heavy psychological burden.”
As if to prove her point, Xue Shufan took a step forward, approaching Pei Qingji.
The moment she stopped, the tip of her high heel touched the tip of his leather shoe, like two ship sails colliding and interlocking.
Xue Shufan reached out and tugged at Pei Qingji’s tie. Under his gaze, she tilted her chin up and lightly pressed her lips against his.
Compared to his earlier tentative and unpracticed kiss, she was clearly more skilled. She directly parted his lips and engaged in a passionate kiss.
It was a very brief kiss, not even lasting half a minute.
However, Pei Qingji’s heart trembled uncontrollably. On the surface, he was elegant and composed, but inside, his mind was blank.
“I’ll leave the matter of meeting the parents this weekend to you, President Pei.” Xue Shufan habitually licked her lips. Whether it was because it had been too long since she last kissed someone, or for other reasons, kissing a good friend wasn’t as difficult as she had imagined.
“Regarding the move, I’ll contact you after I’m done with my work.”
After bidding Pei Qingji goodnight, Xue Shufan turned around and walked into the apartment building.
The crisscrossing tree shadows obscured the orange streetlights, and the hazy light and sounds gradually seeped into Pei Qingji’s eyes.
He stood by the car, staring intently at Xue Shufan’s tall, slender figure, his eyes filled with an inscrutable emotion.
That wonderful, wonderful girl had come back to him after all this time.
The thought of those beautiful moments from the past reappearing in the future made Pei Qingji feel like he had returned to his teenage self, unlike the composed CEO who now managed Zhongtai Bank.
Young Pei Qingji believed it was okay not to be loved; it was enough to learn to love the person he wanted to love.
If only one of them could be loved, then he hoped it would be her.
He yearned for the right to love her.
And he prayed that she would be blessed with abundant love.
–
It rained in the latter half of the night.
Xue Shufan tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. She got up, went to the closet, and took out a box she had hidden.
At the bottom of the box were two photographs.
The photos showed a bright, sunny young boy and girl, holding hands and smiling radiantly at the camera.
Xue Shufan gazed at the photos for a long time, then opened a drawer and took out a lighter—the lighter Pei Qingji had accidentally left behind when he drove her home earlier.
She walked over to the potted plants on the balcony, flicked the lighter, and burned the last photograph.
The rain intensified, and white mist rose from the ground, but it couldn’t extinguish the fiercely burning flame.
A photograph burned to ashes could no longer be restored.
After burning the photo, Xue Shufan got back into bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.
For the next month, apart from meeting Pei Qingji’s parents for dinner on the first weekend, Xue Shufan was busy with experiments at the research institute.
Busy days always pass quickly; before she knew it, it was moving day.
Xue Shufan often traveled worldwide with her scientific research team for research, and her equipment took up almost half of her luggage.
Pei Qingji didn’t say anything when he saw it. He consulted her for every decision, displaying perfect gentlemanly conduct without being overly formal or distant.
Xue Shufan was familiar with the layout of the Park Hyatt Mansion villa and didn’t wander around. She sat on the sofa in the living room, elegantly sipping tea. A fresh batch of Da Hong Pao tea tasted quite good.
“Wife.”
Pei Qingji walked over and said, “There are two study rooms on the second floor. Which one do you like?”
Xue Shufan was taken aback by his words.
After a few seconds, she realized he was calling her that and raised her eyebrows with a smile, “Either is fine. The one on the left will do.”
She paused deliberately, “Husband.”
Transitioning from close, understanding friends to a couple who cherished each other day and night wasn’t actually that difficult.
She had dated before; she wasn’t some pure and ascetic Junior Sister.
Xue Shufan embraced the role of Mrs. Pei, and Pei Qingji wasn’t swept away by emotion.
He knew very well that the path to her heart was long and arduous.
He also firmly believed that one day, the tropical rainforest would be ablaze with the greenhouse effect.
